Breaking: I can confirm the 91st Heisman Trophy finalists, and this race has everything. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love are headed to New York. The ceremony is set for Saturday, December 13. The stage is set, the stakes are clear, and the stories are powerful.
The Finalists, and the Shape of the Race
Mendoza walks into Heisman Week with a wave of momentum. He led Indiana to 13 wins, no losses, and the school’s first outright Big Ten title since 1945. He threw for about 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns, with more scores on the ground. His season felt steady and fierce. His postgame interview after the Big Ten title win showed heart that stuck with voters.
Pavia built something bold at Vanderbilt. He took a program that is used to uphill battles and drove it to 10 wins. His dual threat numbers jump off the page, about 3,192 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and about 826 rushing yards. He plays with an edge, and he drags his team forward with it.
Sayin is the cleanest passer in the group. He delivered a 12 and 1 season at Ohio State with elite efficiency. He completed around 78 percent of his throws, for 3,323 yards and 31 touchdowns. He runs the offense like a veteran, on time and on target, snap after snap.
Love is the outlier and the reminder that the Heisman is not only a quarterback award. He powered Notre Dame with about 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, nearly 6.9 yards per carry. He caught passes, scored often, and became the Irish’s first finalist since 2012. That matters in South Bend, and it matters to this vote.
Heisman Trophy Ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. ET, New York City.
Narratives vs. Numbers
This is a classic Heisman choice. Do you reward the best season on the best story, or the purest production at the toughest speed?
Mendoza offers both, which is why he leads today. The undefeated record and Big Ten crown give him the stage. The throws into tight windows, the poise on third down, and the red zone command give him the film. His leadership moment after the title game connected beyond Indiana. It felt like a Heisman turn.
Sayin is the precision case. His completion rate is the statistic that stays in a voter’s head. His mechanics hold up under pressure. He turned long drives into routine work. If voters lean toward efficiency, he checks every box.
Pavia brings chaos that pays off. He is the player a defense hates to face. He fixes busted plays with his legs, and he runs through arm tackles. He also made Vanderbilt matter in November. That transformation has weight in this room.
Love is the throwback case with modern burst. He reads blocks, hits the crease, and finishes runs with power. He changed games without needing 30 carries. In a quarterback age, he broke through as the lone non passer in the final four.
- Key snapshot for voters: Mendoza, 13 and 0 with 33 passing touchdowns. Sayin, about 78 percent completions. Pavia, more than 4,000 combined yards. Love, nearly 6.9 yards per carry and 21 total touchdowns.
What Matters Most in the Final Days
Voters will weigh three things. First, team success against real opponents. Second, efficiency and impact, play to play. Third, signature moments that define a season. Mendoza owns the cleanest blend. Sayin’s accuracy is unmatched. Pavia’s two way damage screams value. Love brings rare balance and Notre Dame history.
The New York stage also tests poise. The old Heisman guard pays attention to how a finalist carries himself and his program. That does not override the tape, but it nudges minds.
Watch for how each finalist frames his season this week. Clarity in message often mirrors clarity on the field.
Program Stakes and Culture
Indiana’s run has altered the sport’s map. A Heisman for Mendoza would be the final stamp on a season that changed the Hoosiers’ ceiling. Vanderbilt has never had a Heisman winner, and Pavia’s rise would echo far across the SEC. Ohio State knows the podium, and Sayin would extend a line of Buckeye greats in a new era. Notre Dame built its lore on stars like Hornung and Brown. Love sits in that long shadow, and he has earned the light.
This award is about the player, but it always lives inside the sport’s story. These four men have written chapters that will last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the 2025 Heisman finalists?
A: Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Julian Sayin, and Jeremiyah Love.
Q: When is the ceremony?
A: Saturday, December 13, at 7 p.m. ET in New York City.
Q: Is a running back really in the mix this year?
A: Yes. Jeremiyah Love produced big numbers with elite efficiency, and he carried Notre Dame in key moments.
Q: Who is the favorite right now?
A: Fernando Mendoza holds the inside lane after an undefeated season and a Big Ten title.
Q: What separates Julian Sayin from the others?
A: His accuracy and control are unmatched, which kept Ohio State on schedule all year.
The trophy sits a few days away, close enough to feel. Mendoza brings momentum, Sayin brings polish, Pavia brings force, and Love brings balance. Numbers will speak. Stories will linger. By Saturday night, one season will stand taller than the rest. 🏆
